need advice on how to do a two tone finish

Hi I am looking for some advice on how to acomplish something. I am making set of storage shelfs (basicly an open cabnit with a face frame) that have an oak face and plywood sides top and shelfs. The top of the sides will also have a small 1/4 band of oak the edge on the top.

What I would like to do is finish the oak bits the facing and edge band with a dark stain then leave the plwood natural and use a clear poly on the whole thing. Can I assemble the whole thing then tape off the oak bits or will it bleed onto the plywoood? If this sounds like a bad idea what would be a better way to acomplish this?

3 replies so far

If you’re wanting the oak to be darker – have you considered fuming it with ammonia instead of staining it?After fuming you can still do a little work, such as sanding flush, on the oak, without “cutting into” the darker colour.Just an idea – I’m personally very fond of fumed oak, so I’m biased.

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